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Housing Authority of New Orleans Criminal Background Policy: Section 8 & Public Housing

City of New Orleans (Orleans Parish). Runs: Section 8 vouchers and public housing.

Last updated: (housing authority documents checked)

Quick Answer

HANO's voucher (Section 8) and public housing plans have no automatic bar beyond federal law. HANO judges each conviction for the risk it poses, and higher-risk cases go to a review panel; neither plan sets a time limit for that review. The public housing plan lists evidence of drug-related or violent activity from the past 3 years. Current drug use means the past 3 months for public housing and 12 months for vouchers.

Both plans limit the use of arrests: public housing says an arrest will not be the only basis for denial, and the voucher plan says an arrest record alone will not be used without other evidence. Neither plan mentions sealed or expunged records. The voucher plan gives two deadlines: 10 business days and 30 calendar days. Public housing applicants have 10 business days to request a hearing. Before denying a voucher, HANO first considers whether you are in reentry services.

Federal rules every housing authority applies

  • A household member is subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex-offender registration program. The housing authority must run criminal background checks in its own state and in other states where household members are known to have lived.

    Sources: 24 CFR 982.553 ((a)(2)(i)); 24 CFR 960.204 ((a)(4))

  • A household member was ever convicted of manufacturing or producing methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing. This bar is permanent.

    Sources: 24 CFR 982.553 ((a)(1)(ii)(C)); 24 CFR 960.204 ((a)(3))

  • A household member was evicted from federally assisted housing for drug-related criminal activity within the past three years. The housing authority may still admit the household if that person completed a supervised drug rehabilitation program it approves, or if the circumstances that led to the eviction no longer exist.

    Sources: 24 CFR 982.553 ((a)(1)(i)); 24 CFR 960.204 ((a)(1))

  • The housing authority determines that a household member is currently using illegal drugs, or has reasonable cause to believe a member's drug use or pattern of alcohol abuse may threaten other residents' health, safety or peaceful enjoyment.

    Sources: 24 CFR 982.553 ((a)(1)(ii)(A) and (a)(3)); 24 CFR 960.204 ((a)(2) and (b))

Full federal screening rules and your rights during a denial →

Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8): how HANO screens criminal history

Based on Housing Authority of New Orleans Administrative Plan (Housing Choice Voucher Program) (No effective or approval date printed. Posted on hano.org (Business > Agency Plans) as 'Housing Authority of New Orleans Administrative Plan (2026)'. It is the redlined Admin Plan appended to HANO's PHA Annual Plan for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 (PDF created July 2, 2026).).

Look-back periods

Current illegal drug use ('currently engaged in the illegal use of a drug')within 12 months

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.6 Drug and Alcohol Abuse, p. 3-17)

Violent or abusive behavior, or threats, toward HANO personnel (discretionary denial)within the past 5 years

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.7 Previous Behavior in Assisted Housing, p. 3-17; Ch. 3, §3.23.7, p. 3-17; Ch. 3, §3.23.7, p. 3-18)

Eviction from federally assisted housing for any reason (discretionary denial; separate from the mandatory 3-year bar for drug-related evictions)in the last 5 years

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.7 Previous Behavior in Assisted Housing, p. 3-17; Ch. 3, §3.23.7, p. 3-17; Ch. 3, §3.23.7, p. 3-18)

Mandatory denials listed in the plan

  • Lifetime sex-offender registration: HANO must deny assistance if any household member is subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration program.

    Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.4 Federally Barred Admission, p. 3-16; Ch. 3, §3.23.4, p. 3-16)

  • Methamphetamine: HANO must deny assistance if any household member has ever been convicted of making or producing methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing.

    Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.4 Federally Barred Admission, p. 3-16; Ch. 3, §3.23.4, p. 3-16)

  • Drug-related eviction: HANO must deny assistance if any household member was evicted from federally assisted housing for drug-related criminal activity in the previous three years. The exceptions are when the circumstances that led to the eviction no longer exist, or the evicted member has completed a supervised drug rehabilitation program.

    Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.4 Federally Barred Admission, p. 3-16; Ch. 3, §3.23.4, p. 3-16)

  • Current illegal drug use: HANO screens for household members currently using illegal drugs. 'Currently' means within the last 12 months. HANO will not deny admission if that person is enrolled in a supervised drug rehabilitation program.

    Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.6 Drug and Alcohol Abuse, p. 3-17; Ch. 3, §3.23.6, p. 3-17)

  • Alcohol abuse: HANO screens for alcohol abuse that may interfere with other residents' health, safety or peaceful enjoyment. It will not deny admission if the person is enrolled in a supervised rehabilitation program.

    Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.6, p. 3-17)

Arrests

HANO's criminal-record check looks for convictions that pose a risk. In drug and alcohol screening, HANO considers records of convictions, arrests or evictions, but gives a conviction more weight than an arrest. An arrest record alone will not be used unless HANO has other evidence that the person engaged in the conduct within the past twelve months. For admission decisions the HCV plan states no evidence standard; it uses 'preponderance of the evidence' only for terminations.

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.3 Screening for Criminal Record, p. 3-16; Ch. 3, §3.23.6, p. 3-17; Ch. 16 Termination of Assistance, p. 16-6)

Evidence of rehabilitation and other mitigating factors

Before denying, HANO considers whether the applicant is enrolled in reintegration services for formerly incarcerated people. It also weighs how serious the case is, the effect of a denial on uninvolved family members (especially children, elderly or disabled members), and each member's role in the conduct, including whether the person was a minor, has a disability, or is a victim of domestic violence. Other factors are disability and reasonable accommodation, other efforts at rehabilitation, removing the culpable member from the application, and the time that has passed since the negative history. Applicants referred to the risk-review panel may provide any information they wish, and the panel weighs the totality of the circumstances.

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.25.1 Consideration of Circumstances, p. 3-20; Ch. 3, §3.25.1, p. 3-20; Ch. 3, §3.25.2 Making the Decision to Deny Assistance, p. 3-20; Ch. 3, §3.25.2, p. 3-20; +1 more)

If HANO plans to deny you because of a record

HANO sends a written denial notice. If the denial is based on a criminal record or sex-offender report, the notice includes a copy of the record and gives the family 10 business days to dispute its accuracy and relevance by requesting an informal review. Not disputing counts as accepting the record and leads to denial. If the family's dispute succeeds, HANO decides eligibility on the other factors. If the record holds up, the Hearing Officer issues a letter upholding the denial. When the risk-review panel recommends denial, the applicant may request a hearing. Chapter 15 sets the informal review rules: the applicant has 30 calendar days from the notice to respond in writing or request a hearing, legal counsel is allowed, and reviews can be held online. HANO schedules the review within 14 days of the request. A three-person Hearing Panel, made up of people who did not make or approve the original decision, conducts the review. HANO then sends the applicant its final decision with reasons. If the denial is overturned, processing resumes.

Deadline to ask for a review: 10 business days to dispute the criminal record by requesting an informal review (denial notice, §3.26). Chapter 15 separately gives the applicant 30 calendar days from the date of the notice to respond in writing or request a hearing.

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.26 Notice of Eligibility or Denial, p. 3-21; Ch. 3, §3.26, p. 3-21; Ch. 3, §3.23.5, p. 3-17; Ch. 15, §15.1 Decisions Subject to Informal Review, p. 15-9; +5 more)

Also in the plan

Reentry: the first factor HANO lists before denying assistance is whether the applicant is enrolled in reintegration services for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.25.1 Consideration of Circumstances, p. 3-20; Ch. 3, §3.25.1, p. 3-20)

Also in the plan

Conviction screening is individualized. The risk-assessment criteria and review process are in HANO's separate 'criminal background screening procedures', which the plan references but does not include. HANO may add outside experts to the review panel.

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.5 Other Criminal Records, p. 3-16; Ch. 3, §3.23.5, p. 3-17)

Also in the plan

HANO may approve an otherwise eligible family if it agrees to remove the culpable or ineligible member from the application. The head of household must then certify that the person will not visit or stay as a guest in the assisted unit.

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.25.3 Removal of a Family Member's Name, p. 3-20; Ch. 3, §3.25.3, p. 3-21)

Also in the plan

HANO does not give landlords an applicant's criminal history. Owners screen tenants themselves.

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 3, §3.23.9 Screening for Suitability as a Tenant, p. 3-19)

Also in the plan

For current voucher holders: if the background check at reexamination shows a pending criminal investigation, HANO puts off any termination decision until the case is decided.

Source: HCV Administrative Plan (2026) (Ch. 11, §11.4.5 Criminal Background Checks (reexaminations), p. 11-6)

Public housing: how HANO screens criminal history

Based on Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Cover reads 'Effective - DRAFT', with the 'HUD Approved' and 'Board Approved' lines left blank. Page footers read 'ACOP FYB 10/1/26' (fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026). Posted on hano.org (Business > Agency Plans) as 'Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (2026)'.).

Look-back periods

Drug-related or violent criminal activity. The evidence the plan lists is records of convictions, arrests or evictions within the past three years. The plan says evidence 'includes, but is not limited to' these records, so this is not stated as a hard cap.within the past three years

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.D (PHA Policy), p. 69)

Fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with any federal housing programin the last three years

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.D Previous Behavior (PHA Policy), p. 70)

Current illegal drug use ('currently engaged in')during the previous three months

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.B (PHA Policy), p. 66)

Disturbing neighbors or destroying property, checked through police and court records that may show an arrest or convictionwithin the past three years

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.E Resources Used to Check Applicant Suitability, p. 74)

Mandatory denials listed in the plan

  • Drug-related eviction: HANO must deny admission if any household member was evicted from federally assisted housing for drug-related criminal activity in the last three years. HANO will still admit the family if it can verify that the person completed a HANO-approved supervised drug rehabilitation program, or that the person is no longer in the household.

    Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.B Required Denial of Admission, p. 65; Ch. 3, §3.3.B, p. 65; Ch. 3, §3.3.B (PHA Policy), p. 65)

  • Current illegal drug use: HANO must deny admission if a household member is currently using illegal drugs. 'Currently engaged in' means any use of illegal drugs in the previous three months.

    Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.B Required Denial of Admission, p. 65; Ch. 3, §3.3.B, p. 65; Ch. 3, §3.3.B (PHA Policy), p. 66)

  • Drug or alcohol pattern: HANO must deny admission if it has reasonable cause to believe a member's drug use or alcohol abuse may threaten other residents' health, safety or peaceful enjoyment.

    Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.B, p. 66)

  • Methamphetamine: HANO must deny admission if any household member has ever been convicted of producing or manufacturing methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing.

    Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.B, p. 66)

  • Lifetime sex-offender registration: HANO must deny admission if any household member is subject to lifetime registration. HANO must first offer the family the chance to remove that person from the household.

    Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.B, p. 66; Ch. 3, §3.3.F Removal of a Family Member's Name, p. 76)

Arrests

The ACOP repeats HUD's rule that PHAs may not use arrest records as the basis for denial. HANO's policy is that an arrest record will not be the sole basis for denial or proof of disqualifying criminal activity. An arrest can, however, trigger an investigation: HANO may get the police report and consider witness statements, whether charges were filed, and whether they were dropped, dismissed or ended in acquittal. Evidence of criminal conduct is considered if it shows a demonstrable risk to safety or property. All admission decisions use the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard. Note that the evidence HANO lists for drug-related or violent activity still includes arrest records from the past three years.

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.A Overview, p. 64; Ch. 3, §3.3.D Criminal Activity (PHA Policy), p. 70; Ch. 3, §3.3.F (PHA Policy), p. 76; Ch. 3, §3.3.F Criteria for Deciding to Deny Admission (PHA Policy), p. 75; +1 more)

Evidence of rehabilitation and other mitigating factors

Before deciding, HANO considers how serious the case is (especially for other residents' safety or property) and the effect of a denial on uninvolved family members. It also weighs the time since the violation, including the person's age at the time and the family's recent history and likely future conduct. Other factors are whether the evidence shows a demonstrable risk, participation (or willingness to participate) in social service or counseling programs, and, for drug or alcohol abuse, current participation in or completion of supervised rehabilitation. HANO requires applicants to submit evidence of rehabilitation. The risk-review panel weighs the totality of the circumstances, including any information the applicant wishes to provide. HANO may decide case by case not to deny. HANO also recognizes that a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking may have a negative history, including a prior arrest record, because of that abuse.

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.F (PHA Policy), p. 75; Ch. 3, §3.3.F (PHA Policy), p. 76; Ch. 3, §3.3.D (PHA Policy), p. 69; Ch. 3, §3.3.D, p. 70; +1 more)

If HANO plans to deny you because of a record

If a criminal record or sex-offender registration makes a family appear ineligible, HANO sends a written notice of the proposed denial. It gives a copy of the record to the applicant and to the person the record is about. The family has 10 business days to dispute the record's accuracy and relevance; if it does not respond, HANO issues the denial. A family that does not dispute before the denial letter can still do so at the informal hearing. The written denial goes out within 10 business days of the decision and states the reasons and the right to an informal hearing. The hearing request must be in writing, delivered in person or by first-class mail, no later than 10 business days from the date of the denial notice. HANO schedules the hearing within 10 business days of the request. The hearing officer is someone other than the person who made or approved the decision (or that person's subordinate). The applicant may present written or oral objections. The hearing officer makes a recommendation, but HANO makes the final decision and mails it within 10 business days of the hearing. Applicants denied after the risk-review panel appeal under ACOP Chapter 14.

Deadline to ask for a review: 10 business days from the date of HANO's notice of denial (written request, delivered in person or by first-class mail). Separately, the family has 10 business days from the proposed-denial notice to dispute the criminal record.

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.H Notice of Eligibility or Denial (PHA Policy), p. 79; Ch. 3, §3.3.H (PHA Policy), p. 79; Ch. 4, §4.3.E Final Eligibility Determination (PHA Policy), p. 100; Ch. 14, §14.1.B Informal Hearing Process – Scheduling (PHA Policy), PDF p. 357; +5 more)

Also in the plan

No automatic bar beyond federal law. Applicants whose convictions do not suggest a significant level of risk are admissible if otherwise eligible. Higher-risk cases go to a panel of HANO or management-agent officials, which may include outside experts. The risk criteria are in HANO's separate 'criminal background screening procedures', which are not part of the ACOP.

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.D Criminal Activity (PHA Policy), p. 69; Ch. 3, §3.3.D (PHA Policy), p. 69)

Also in the plan

Many HANO public housing sites are run by private management agents. The ACOP requires third parties contracted after October 1, 2022 to follow HANO's criminal background screening procedures.

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.D (PHA Policy), p. 69)

Also in the plan

How screening works: criminal background checks go through local law enforcement for all adults. If results are inconclusive, HANO requests a fingerprint card and an NCIC check. HANO uses the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender database to check sex-offender registration.

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.E Screening (PHA Policy), p. 71; Ch. 3, §3.3.E (PHA Policy), p. 71; Ch. 3, §3.3.E (PHA Policy), p. 72)

Also in the plan

The family can stay eligible by removing the culpable member from the application. The head of household must certify that the person will not visit or stay as a guest in the unit.

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.F Removal of a Family Member's Name (PHA Policy), p. 77)

Also in the plan

The ACOP quotes HUD's position that blanket bans on anyone with a conviction, regardless of when it happened, what it involved or what the person has done since, cannot be justified.

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.A Overview, p. 64)

Also in the plan

HANO contacts drug treatment facilities only when it has already decided to deny for a member's drug-related criminal activity and the family says that member has completed supervised rehabilitation.

Source: ACOP (FYB 10/1/26) (Ch. 3, §3.3.E Obtaining Information from Drug Treatment Facilities (PHA Policy), p. 73)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How far back does HANO look at criminal history for a Section 8 voucher?
Housing Authority of New Orleans Administrative Plan (Housing Choice Voucher Program) (No effective or approval date printed. Posted on hano.org (Business > Agency Plans) as 'Housing Authority of New Orleans Administrative Plan (2026)'. It is the redlined Admin Plan appended to HANO's PHA Annual Plan for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 (PDF created July 2, 2026).) lists these look-back periods — Current illegal drug use ('currently engaged in the illegal use of a drug'): within 12 months; Violent or abusive behavior, or threats, toward HANO personnel (discretionary denial): within the past 5 years; Eviction from federally assisted housing for any reason (discretionary denial; separate from the mandatory 3-year bar for drug-related evictions): in the last 5 years. Federal mandatory denials (such as lifetime sex-offender registration) apply regardless of time passed.
How far back does HANO look at criminal history for public housing?
Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Cover reads 'Effective - DRAFT', with the 'HUD Approved' and 'Board Approved' lines left blank. Page footers read 'ACOP FYB 10/1/26' (fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026). Posted on hano.org (Business > Agency Plans) as 'Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (2026)'.) lists these look-back periods — Drug-related or violent criminal activity. The evidence the plan lists is records of convictions, arrests or evictions within the past three years. The plan says evidence 'includes, but is not limited to' these records, so this is not stated as a hard cap.: within the past three years; Fraud, bribery, or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with any federal housing program: in the last three years; Current illegal drug use ('currently engaged in'): during the previous three months; Disturbing neighbors or destroying property, checked through police and court records that may show an arrest or conviction: within the past three years. Federal mandatory denials (such as lifetime sex-offender registration) apply regardless of time passed.
What can I do if HANO denies my application because of my record?
HANO sends a written denial notice. If the denial is based on a criminal record or sex-offender report, the notice includes a copy of the record and gives the family 10 business days to dispute its accuracy and relevance by requesting an informal review. Not disputing counts as accepting the record and leads to denial. If the family's dispute succeeds, HANO decides eligibility on the other factors. If the record holds up, the Hearing Officer issues a letter upholding the denial. When the risk-review panel recommends denial, the applicant may request a hearing. Chapter 15 sets the informal review rules: the applicant has 30 calendar days from the notice to respond in writing or request a hearing, legal counsel is allowed, and reviews can be held online. HANO schedules the review within 14 days of the request. A three-person Hearing Panel, made up of people who did not make or approve the original decision, conducts the review. HANO then sends the applicant its final decision with reasons. If the denial is overturned, processing resumes. Deadline: 10 business days to dispute the criminal record by requesting an informal review (denial notice, §3.26). Chapter 15 separately gives the applicant 30 calendar days from the date of the notice to respond in writing or request a hearing..
Does HANO consider rehabilitation or other mitigating evidence?
Before denying, HANO considers whether the applicant is enrolled in reintegration services for formerly incarcerated people. It also weighs how serious the case is, the effect of a denial on uninvolved family members (especially children, elderly or disabled members), and each member's role in the conduct, including whether the person was a minor, has a disability, or is a victim of domestic violence. Other factors are disability and reasonable accommodation, other efforts at rehabilitation, removing the culpable member from the application, and the time that has passed since the negative history. Applicants referred to the risk-review panel may provide any information they wish, and the panel weighs the totality of the circumstances.

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This is informational only, not legal advice. Housing authorities revise these plans, often every year, and the version in force when you apply controls. Ask HANO for its current written policy, and contact legal aid or a fair housing organization if you are denied.

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